Maternity girdle



Sept. 15, 1953 B. WOHLMAN MATERNITY GIRDLE Filed D60. 1, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Beatrice Z Z oh/m'an BY Fig.2

Sept 1-5, 1953 Filed Dec. 1, 1949 B- WOHLMAN MATERNITY GIRDLE 5 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. Beatrice Vl ohlmarz ATTORNFY' Sept. 15, 1953 B. WOHLMAN MATERNITY GIRDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1, 1949 INVENTOR Bealrice My man BY ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATERNITY GIRDLE Beatrice Wohlman, New York, N. Y. Application December 1, 1949, Serial No. 130,479

This invention relates to maternity girdles.

An object of this invention is to provide a maternity girdle which shall have a front panel which stretches up and down but not sideways, said panel being in the form of an insert in the front portion of the girdle and extending from the upper edge of the girdle to a point short of the bottom edge of the girdle, said front portion of the girdle being made of cloth which stretches more easily sideways than up and down.

Another object of this invention is to provide a maternity girdle of the character described having side panels likewise made of cloth which stretches more easily sideways than up and down, and said side panels being interconnected by a back panel which stretches up and down but not sideways.

Another object of this invention is to provide a maternity girdle of the character described in which the side panels are provided with lacing means invisible to the outside when the lacing is drawn tight, and the lacing being more to the rear of the girdle than to the front so as not to press against the abdominal portion of the body, and which will contact the hips of the body which will be less affected by the pressure.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a girdle of the character described having inner lining flaps to underlie the lacing and serve as a protection for the body.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in the back portion of the girdle a plurality of bones or stiffeners which are located at the small of the back, the arrangement being such that the bones will not retard up and down give or stretch of said back panel. The pockets for the bones comprise elastic strips stitched at its side edges and ends to said back panel, and said pocket being stretchable up and down with the back panel.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described having lacing at both sides so that as the lacing is opened up to expand the garment the front of the girdle will keep centered as well as the back of the girdle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described having elastic stripping stitched to both the top and bottom edges of the garment at the inside thereof so as to give with the front and side panels or portions of the garment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a girdle of the character described in which zig zag stitching is used throughout, and

8 Claims. (Cl. 241) in which the front insert is attached to the front panel by faggoting, and in which'the side panels areattached to the front panel by faggoting.

Yet another object of this invention is to pro vide a garment of the character described having a pair of symmetrical reinforcing gussets stitched to the innerside of the front portion of the garment and extending from the sides of the insert to the side panels and said gussets being made of cloth stretchable sideways and being some- What curved upwardly and outwardly so as to support'the body of the wearer in the region of the pelvis. The gussets are less stretchable sideways than the cloth of the two front panels which comprise the front portion of the girdle, so as to better support the pelvic region or abdomen of the wearer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described in which the upper edge of the front of the garment and the upper edge of the back of the garment are curved upwardly or extended upwardly so as to extend the effect of the girdle upwardly on the body.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a girdle of the character described in which the front portion of the garment comprises a pair of front panels stitched together below the lower end of the insert and in which the stitched together edges normally before stitching form an inverted V with the apex at the lower end of the insert, and the lower ends of said edges being brought together and said edges stitched together so as to constrict the lower end of the girdle.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a durable girdle of the character described which shall be attractive in appearance, which shall be long wearing, comfortable in use and yet practical and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims:

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a maternity girdle embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a, front view of the girdle turned inside out and showing the flaps which underlie the lacing stretched out,

Fig. 4 is a partial side view of the girdle,

Fig. 5 is a partial inside view of one side of the girdle,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on. line fi8 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial. cross-sectional view of part of the girdle, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective crosssectional View of another part of the girdle.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l0 designates a girdle embodying the invention. The same comprises a front portion H comprising a pair of symmetrical front panels [2.- Between the panels I2 is an insert i3. Theinsert 13 ex? tends from the upper edge of the girdle to a point l4 spaced above the lower edge -of the girdle. The insert I3 is made of satin lastex or the hire cloth which stretches up and down but not sideways. The insert 13 :is wider attits upper edge, has a constricted middle .portionand its lower end is somewhat leaf shaped. It is connected to the adjacent edges'of the front panels l2 by faggoting 1.5. The. outer .edges of the insert 13 are all folded inwardly against the rear surface of said insert and attachedthereto by lines of zig zag stitching IS.

The front panels I2 are made of a cloth that stretches more easily from side to side than up down. The panels 12 are stitched together by a central line of 'faggoting H extending from the point 14 to the lower edge of the girdle. The panels [2 are cut in such a way that the edges thereof connected by faggoti-ng I! form an inverted V with the apex at the point H, before said edges .are stitched together. Said edges are then broughttogether and connected by fag-- goting I! thereby constricting or;pulling in the lower edge of the girdle.

Connected to the outer endsiof'the frontzpam cls l2 by lines of faggoting 19, are similar symmetrically disposed side panels 20 likewise vmade of cloth which stretches .more easily from side to side than up and down. In other words the cloth may be thexsameas the-cloth l2 and stretches the same way. The outer edges of-the panels l2 may be turned inwardly against the rear surface of said panels-and stitched thereto by lines of zig zag stitching 2|. The adjacent edges of panels 20 may "likewise be folded inwardly against the rear surfaces of said side panels and stitched theretoby 'linesof zig 'zag stitching 22. Each panel 2!! may beqmade of two pieces of cloth which extend from the lower to the upper edge of the garment. The forward piece is designated by the numeral 'Z I-andthe rearward piece by numeral 25. The pieces 24, 25 are stitched together as at 26 at-their lower ends. The adjacent edges are turned back against the rear surface of pieces "24 and 25 and stitched to said pieces by lines of stitching E! and 28 respectively. Above'the line of stitching 25 the pieces 24. and 25 are split, forming edges 29 and 30 respectively extending to the upper end of thegirdle. Stitched to the inner surfaces of said edges 29 and 30 are'strips of tape 34 and 35, respectively, to which'are attached eyelets 35. The eyelets are connected by lacing 3i.

Stitched to each piece of tape 34 is an inner flap 4!) which lies against the inner side of the lacing. It will be noted that the lacing 31 is located rearwardly of the sides of the girdle so as to contact the hips and legs of the wearer and not the abdomen. The flaps 40 extend rearwardly toward each other and as the girdle is adjustcd to increase its girth, the flaps will still protect the wearer from contact with the lacing or eyelets. The lower ends of the tapes 34 and 35 are stitched to piece 20 by stitching 41. The rear edges of the pieces 25 are stitched to a rear panel 42 which interconnects the side panels and may be made of satin lastex stretchable up and'down but not sideways.

Stitched to the lower edge of the garment all around is an elastic strip 43'. At the upper edge ofithegarment an elastic strip 44 is stitched to the panels I3 and I2 and pieces 24. A second elastic strip=45 is stitched at the upper end of thegarment to .thepieces 25 and rear panel 42. The pieces 25 are stitched to the rear panel 42 along the seams 48. The adjacent edges of pieces 25 and panel 42 are folded rearwardly againstthe inner; surfaces thereof and stitched in place by lines :of stitching 49 and 5'3, respectively.

.Overlying-theupper portion of theseam 48 and stitched to the adjacent edges of pieces25 andpanel 40 are strips of tape 52 forming longitudinal pockets in which be placed stiffeners 53. The pockets 52 extend from the upper end of the garment about of the way down towards the bottom.

Stitched to the inner surface of the rear panel 52 are a pair of elongated elastic strips 55. The sideedges of elastic strips 55 are stitched to the panel 42 along parallel lines of zigzag stitching 55, forming pockets to receive bones or stiffeners 51. The elastic strips 55 are stretchable up and down with the panel 42 and the bones 51 do not hamper the stretching of the pockets. The pockets or strips 55 are symmetrically disposed with respect to the back of the girdle and are located adjacent the small of the back.

Meansis provided to support the pelvic region of the body. To this end there is stitched to the inner surface of the panels I2 a pair of similar symmetrically disposed gussets -60. The upper and lower edges of gussets are stitched to the panelsl2 by lines of stitching 6i and 62, respectively. Said gussets Stare also stitched to the panels 2 at their ends. It will be noted that the edge of the panels 12 all around the insert l3 are folded back at the inside and stitched in place by lines of zig zag stitching 13. The lines of stitching 19 stitch the inner ends of the gussets B0 in place. At their oute side the gussets are stitched. in place by said lines of stitching 2!. The gussets are made of satin lastex or like cloth, stretchable sideways but not up and down. However, the stretch of the gussets sideways is less than the stretch of the panels l2 sideways. It will be noted that the gussets 60 are inclined generally upwardly and rearwardly so as to help support the pelvic region of the wearer. The gussets G0 are located above the lower edges of the panels [2 and somewhat above the lower end of the insert 13. Both the upper and lower ends of the panels I2, 20' and 42 are folded back inwardly and stitched in place by lines of zig zag stitch ing 12.

It will be noted that the upper end of the insert I3 is curved upwardly as designated by numeral 16. Also the upper end of the center of the panel 42 is somewhat upwardly curved as at 11.

It will now be'understood that the front insert panel stretches up and down and not sideways and is an insert in the front panels which stretch more sideways than up and down. The side lacings and flap allow opening up of garment. The lacing is invisible from the outside and is located toward the back of the garment than the front. The bones at the small of the back do not retard up and down give. The lacing is at both sides of the garment and keep the garment centered. The side panels 20 stretch more sideways than up and down. Attached to the lower end of the garment are the usual hose supports at.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

While the insert 83 has been described as being made of material which stretches up and down and not sideward, said insert may also be made of a material which stretches more easily up and down than sideways, in other words, said material may have just a little stretch sideways and may be much more easily stretchable up and down. Furthermore, the rear panel 42 instead of being stretchable only up and down and not sideways may be made of cloth which is stretchable more easily up and down than sideways, in other words, it may be made of a cloth which stretches easily up and down but must be pulled hard in order to stretch ing its upper end even with upper ends of the,

side panels and its lower end spaced upwardly from lower ends of the side panels, said intermediate panel being stretchable up and down and being gradually reduced in width from its upper end for a portion of its length and then gradually increasing in width downwardly and forming a widened lower portion having a tapered lower end, said side panels having reversely curved inner side edges sewed to side edges of the intermediate panel and extending towards each other about the lower end of the intermediate panel and terminatin in vertical edges sewed together between the lower end of the intermediate panel and the lower end of the front section, side sections stretchable transversely and having front side edges sewed to outer side edges of the side panels of said front section, and a rear section'stretchable up and down and having side edges sewed to rear side edges of the side sections.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the side panels of the front section carry elastic reinforcing bands sewed along their margins to inner surfaces of the said side panels and extending transversely thereof from sides of th said 6 widened lower portion of the intermediate panel in upwardly spaced relation to the lower end of the intermediate panel and disposed at an upward incline towards their outer ends.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the side sections consist of front and rear panels extending vertically in side by side relation to each other, the front panels of said side sections being of greater width than the rear panels of said side sections and extending around the side of the girdle to the rear thereof, lower end portions of inner side edges of the front and rear panels being sewed together for a short distance and for the remainder of their length, the said front and rear panels being free and spaced from each other and provided with eyes projecting from their inner side edges in vertically spaced relation to each other, and lacing means secured to outer edges of the front and rear panels for variable adjustment of the girdle.

4. A girdle comprising a front section con sisting of a pair of one piece side panels, and an intermediate one piece panel having its upper end even with the upper ends of the side panels, and its lower end spaced upwardly from the lower ends of the sid panels, said intermediate panel being stretchable more easily up and down than sideways, said side panels having inner side edges sewed to the side edges of the intermediate panel and extending toward each other about the lower end of the intermediate panel and terminating in vertical edges sewed together between the lower end of the intermediate panel and the lower ends of the side panels, said side panels being stretchable more easily transversely than up and down, side sections stretchable more easily transversely than up anddown and having front sid edges sewed to outer side edges of the side panels of said front section, and a rear section stretchable more easily up and down than transversely and having side edges sewed to the rear side edges of said side sections, the side panels of the front section carrying elastic reinforcing bands sewed along their margins to inner surfaces of said side panels and extending transversely thereof from sides of the intermediate panel in upwardly spaced relation to the lower end of said intermediate panel and disposed at an upward incline toward their outer ends.

5. A girdle comprising a front section consisting of a pair of one piec side panels, and an intermediate one piece panel having its upper end even with the upper ends of the side panels, and its lower end spaced upwardly from .the lower ends of the side panels, said intermediate panel being stretchable more easily up and down than sideways, said side panels hav ing inner side edges sewed to the side edges of the intermediate panel and extending toward each other about the lower end of the intermediate panel and terminating in vertical edges sewed together between the lower end of the intermediate panel and th lower ends of the side panels, said side panels being stretchable more easily transversely than up and down, side sections stretchable more easily transversely than up and down and having front side edges sewed to outer side edges of the side panels of said front section, and a rear section stretchable more easily up and down than transversely and having side edges sewed to the rear side edges ofsaid side sections, the side panels of the front section carrying elastic reinforcing bands sewed along their margins to inner surfaces of said side panels and extending transversely thereof from sides of the intermediate panel in upwardly spaced relation to the lower end of said intermediate panel and disposed at an upward incline toward their outer ends, the reinforcing bands being stretchable transversely less easily than the side panels of the front section.

6. A girdle comprising a front section consisting of a pair of. one piece side panels, and an intermediate one piece panel having its upper end even with the upper ends of the side panels, and its lower end spaced upwardly .from the lower ends of the side panels, said intermediate panel being stretchable more easily up and downthan sideways, said side panels having inner side edges sewed to the side edges of the intermediate panel and extending toward each other about the lower end of the intermediate panel and terminating in vertical edges sewed together between the lower end of the intermediate panel and the lower ends ls, said side panels being stretchy transversely than up and down; tretchable more easily transversely than up and down and having front side edges sewed to outer side edges of the side panels of said front section, and a rear section stretchable more easily up and down than transversely and having side edges sewed to the rear side edges of said side sections, the side sections consisting of front and rear panels extending vertically in side by side relation to each other, the front panels of the side sections being of greater width than the rear panels of said side sections and extending to the back of the girdle, lower end portions of the inner side edges of the front and rear panels or said side sections being sewed together for a short distance and for the remainder of their length, said front and rear panels of said side sections being free and spaced from each other and provided with eyes at their inner side edges in vertically spaced relation to each other, and racing means secured to outer edges of the front and rear panels for variable adjustment of the girdle.

7. A girdle comprising a front section consisting of a pair of one piece side panels, and an intermediate one piece panel having its upper end even with the upper ends of the side panels, and its lower end spaced upwardly from the lower ends of the side panels, said intermediate panel being stretchable more easily up and down than sideways, said side panels having inner side edges sewed to the side edges of the intermediate panel and extending toward each other about the lower end of the intermediate panel and terminating in vertical edges sewed together between the lower end of the intermediate panel and the lower ends of the side panels, said side panels being stretchable more easily transversely than up and down, side sections stretchable more easily transversely than up and down and having front side edges sewed to outer side edges of the side panels of said front section, and a rear section stretchable more easily up and down than transversely and having side edges sewed to the rear side edges of said side sections, the side sections consisting of front and rear panels extending vertically in side by side relation to each other, the front panels of the side sections being of greater width than the rear panels of said side sections and extending to the back of the girdle, lower end portions of the inner side edges of the front and rear panels of said side sections being sewed together for a short distance and for the remainder of their length, said front and rear panels of said side sections being free and spaced from each otherand provided with eyes at their inner side edges in vertically spaced relation to each other, and lacing means secured to outer edges of the front and rear panels for variable adjustment of the girdle, flaps being attached'to the front panels of the side sections, and said flaps extending rearwardly and underlying the lacing.

8. A girdle comprising a front section consisting of a pair of one piece side panels, and an intermediate one piece panel having its upper end even with the upper ends of the side panels, and its lower end spaced upwardly from the lower ends of the side panels, said intermediate pane1 being stretchable more easily up and down than sideways, said side panels having inner side edges sewed to the side edges of the intermediate panel and extending toward each other about the lower end of the intermediate panel and terminating in vertical edges sewed together between the lower end of the intermediate panel and the lower ends of the side panels, said side panels being stretchable more easily transversely than up and down, side sections stretchable more easily transversely than up and down and having front side edges sewed to outer side edges of the side panels of said front section, and a rear section stretchable more easily up and down than transversely and having side edges sewed to the rear side edges of said side sections, the side panels of the front section carrying elastic reinforcing bands sewed along their margins to inner surfaces of said-side panels and extending transversely thereof from sides of the intermediate panel in upwardly spaced relation to the lower end of said intermediate pane1 and disposed at an upward incline toward their outer ends, the side sections consisting of front and rear panels extending vertically in side by side relation to each other, the front panels of the side sections being of greater width than the rear panels of said side sections and extending back to the girdle, lower end portions of the inner side edges of the front and rear panels of said side sections being sewed together for a short distance and for the remainder of their length, the front, side and rear panels of said side sections being free and spaced from each other and provided with eyes at their inner side edges in vertically spaced relation to each other, and lacingmeans secured to outer edges of the front and rear panels of said side sections for variable adjustment of the girdle.

BEATRICE WOI-ILMAN.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,620,264 Lockwood Mar. 8, 1927 1,707,810 Kops Apr. 2, 1929 2,016,516 Robbins Oct. 8, 1935 2,157,422 Metz May 9, 1939 2,180,178 Versoy Nov. 14, 1939 2,384,806 Berdach Sept. 18, 1945 2,489,111 Stone Nov. 22, 1949 2,506,826 Ford May 9, 1950 2,523,409 Wittenberg Sept. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,103 Great Britain June23, 1932 

